Live with Nolan Higdon and Ron Placone

Monopolizing the Mat: How TKO is Rewriting Sports, Media, and Law with Nate Wilcox

Watch: https://youtu.be/D-eLgcHwKRg Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com [https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com]Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox [https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox]Learn more at: https://www.NolanHigdon.com [https://www.NolanHigdon.com] In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, we pull back the curtain on an unprecedented collision of professional cage fighting, geopolitics, and massive corporate consolidation. We sit down with combat sports investigative journalist Nate Wilcox to unpack the staggering implications behind "UFC Freedom 250"—a historic mixed martial arts event scheduled to take place right on the South Lawn of the White House. While the mainstream headlines focus on Donald Trump’s long-standing bromance with Dana White, we follow the real money. Wilcox breaks down the overlooked role of TKO and Endeavor kingpin Ari Emanuel, detailing how his empire is intricately tied to the massive Ellison family buyouts dominating the media landscape—from Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery to TikTok. We expose the dark underbelly of this corporate-state alliance: from lucrative partnerships with authoritarian gulf regimes in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, to the relentless price gouging, talent exploitation, and massive multi-million dollar antitrust class-action lawsuits brought by the fighters themselves. This isn't just sports; it's a blueprint for global monopoly. Inside This Episode:The Octagon on the South Lawn: The political choreography, logistics, and corporate motivations behind staging a full-scale UFC event at the White House. The Ari Emanuel & Ellison Nexus: Unpacking the massive corporate web connecting TKO's leadership to the high-stakes ownership shifts at Paramount, WBD, and TikTok. Sportswashing & State Money: Examining the lucrative, controversial partnerships between the UFC’s parent company and the autocratic governments of the Persian Gulf. The Cost of Monopoly: A look inside TKO's management of the WWE, relentless talent payroll cuts, consumer price gouging, and their aggressive legislative push to monopolize global boxing alongside the Saudis. Fighters Fight Back: An update on the massive antitrust class-action lawsuits against TKO that have already triggered $375 million in damages, and what the remaining suits mean for the industry. #NolanHigdon #TheDisinfoDetox #UFCFreedom250 #NateWilcox #TKO #AriEmanuel #MediaConsolidation #Sportswashing #Antitrust #JournalismEthics

US Continues To Drift Further Into Food Insecurity/More Election News w/ Ron and Nolan

Watch: https://youtu.be/yCGwskw1keY Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com] Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox [https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox] Learn more at: https://www.NolanHigdon.com [https://www.NolanHigdon.com] Nolan Higdon and Ron Placone return to map out a nation drifting into deep food insecurity, escalating media censorship, and high-stakes election battles. From a harsh corporate-aligned rollout cutting millions from federal food assistance to the literal silencing of journalists within the walls of the Pentagon, we dissect a week defined by systemic overhauls and institutional clashes. From key polling shifts in the California gubernatorial race to intense internal chaos inside historic mainstream newsrooms, we unpack the power plays shaping the beginning of June 2026. Inside This Episode:The Hunger Crisis: A stark new report reveals a remarkable increase in food insecurity across the United States. Meanwhile, the Trump administration faces heavy criticism after an official claims that millions kicked off food aid are simply "moving into the American Dream."Source: Hunger Rises Under Trump - Common Dreams | Brooke Rollins SNAP Changes - Common Dreams Election Security & Polling: Authorities open an investigation into possible election interference after a downtown Los Angeles drop box is targeted with fire damage, destroying ballots. Meanwhile, a fresh May 30th poll reveals Xavier Becerra leading the California Governor's race, with Tom Steyer and Paris Hilton locked in a toss-up for second place.Source: LA Ballot Box Fire Investigation - ABC7 | California 2026 Poll - Emerson College Polling The Anti-Weaponization Fund: We tracking the massive shockwaves from Donald Trump dropping a $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund,' which has prompted blue states to quickly race to tax the payouts. Plus, Jill Biden speaks out about her decision to publicly support Joe Biden despite her private fears following the 2024 debate.Source: Trump Anti-Weaponization Fund - HuffPost | Blue States Tax Weaponization Fund - Politico | Jill Biden Breaks Silence - CNN Politics The Maine Senate Race: Independent candidate Graham Platner strikes back against the Wall Street Journal, slamming their report on an alleged sexting scandal as "gossip" and "journalistic malpractice" meant to distract from policy. Platner also hits out at Susan Collins over her record on sending troops to war.Source: Platner Slams Sexting Allegations - WMTW | Platner Hits Back at Collins - Common Dreams International Fractures: Tensions flare globally as Israel moves to cut ties with the U.N. Chief following its inclusion on a sexual violence blacklist. Closer to the ground, Benjamin Netanyahu announces he has directed the IDF to increase its control of Gaza to 70%.Source: Israel to Cut Ties With UN Chief - The New York Times | Netanyahu Directs IDF to Increase Gaza Control - BBC News The Media Crackdown: Press access takes a massive hit as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth officially designates the Pentagon press office as a classified, off-limits area for reporters. Over at CBS, veteran journalist Scott Pelley rips into leadership during a tense staff meeting, accusing Editor-In-Chief Bari Weiss of "murdering '60 Minutes'" following high-profile firings.Source: Pentagon Restricts Media Access - Politico | Pelley Rips Bari Weiss Over 60 Minutes Firings - HuffPost #NolanHigdon #RonPlacone #TheDisinfoDetox #FoodInsecurity #SNAP #Election2026 #CAGov #XavierBecerra #TrumpFund #JillBiden #MainePolitics #GrahamPlatner #Gaza #PeteHegseth #Pentagon #CBSNews #BariWeiss #MediaLiteracy

Live with Nolan Higdon and Ron Placone

Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com] Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox [https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox] Learn more at: https://www.NolanHigdon.com [https://www.NolanHigdon.com] Nolan Higdon and Ron Placone return to navigate a week defined by geopolitical escalations, generational political shifts, and the heavy toll corporate technology is extracting from our everyday lives. From a potential reality-TV-fueled shakeup in the LA mayoral race to corporate tech infrastructure literally freezing out everyday citizens, we break down the reality of a political and economic system prioritizing profit over people. From a massive primary upset in Texas that drew the attention of Donald Trump to a developing military conflict in the Middle East, we pull back the curtain on the power plays defining May 28, 2026. Inside This Episode: Potential LA Election Shakeup: A shocking new poll reveals a tight three-way toss-up in the LA Mayoral race. Incumbent Karen Bass and progressive city councilmember Nithya Raman are facing an unexpected challenge from reality TV star Spencer Pratt, completely upending local politics.Source: LA Mayor Race Poll: Bass, Raman, Pratt - Newsweek Texas Primary Shockwaves: A massive generational shift in Texas as veteran Rep. Al Green is defeated by freshman Rep. Christian Menefee in a heated Democratic runoff heavily influenced by outside crypto-industry spending. The high-profile loss quickly prompted a signature, celebratory reaction from Donald Trump.Source: Texas Election Battle - BBC News | Menefee Defeats Al Green in Texas Runoff - AP News | Trump Marks Al Green Loss - The Hill Data Center Energy Grid Crisis: Following up on a story we’ve been tracking, we look at the staggering reality of AI and data center expansion cannibalizing public infrastructure—including a major energy supplier abandoning 49,000 Lake Tahoe residents to prioritize tech industry power demands.Source: Energy Supplier Abandons Lake Tahoe for Data Centers - Yahoo Finance More AI Graduation Booing: The backlash against white-collar automation continues to build. We look at the latest viral footage of 2026 college graduates loudly booing the forced implementation of artificial intelligence during commencement ceremonies.Source: More AI Booing Clips - RT Twitter Global Flashpoints: We unpack the dangerous escalation in the Middle East following a U.S. official's confirmation that the military has carried out limited "self-defense" strikes against targets in southern Iran.Source: US Military Carries Out Attacks in Southern Iran - NBC News #NolanHigdon #RonPlacone #TheDisinfoDetox #LAMayor #KarenBass #NithyaRaman #SpencerPratt #TexasRunoff #AlGreen #ChristianMenefee #AICrisis #DataCenterGrid #LakeTahoe #IranStrikes #MediaLiteracy

Billionaires & Bureaucracy: Why Progressives are Backing Tom Steyer with Jeff Cohen

Watch: https://youtu.be/cTYKgm_jtiM Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com [https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com]Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox [https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox]Learn more at: https://www.NolanHigdon.com [https://www.NolanHigdon.com] In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, we tackle the increasingly blurry lines between corporate wealth, grassroots activism, and media gatekeeping. We are joined by legendary media critic, author, and FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting) founder Jeff Cohen to break down a political paradox raising eyebrows across the progressive movement: how a prominent, Bernie Sanders-aligned grassroots organization came to endorse billionaire former hedge-fund manager Tom Steyer in the California gubernatorial race. We dissect the strategic calculations and systemic pressures that lead left-wing organizations to align with ultra-wealthy self-funders, examining what this means for the future of independent political organizing. Additionally, Cohen reflects on his pioneering work founding FAIR, tracing how the landscape of media distortion, corporate censorship, and institutional "fake news" has evolved from the late 1980s into our current chaotic digital landscape. Inside This Episode:The Grassroots Paradox: Unpacking how and why a Sanders-aligned lobbying group chose to back billionaire Tom Steyer for California Governor. The Legacy of FAIR: Jeff Cohen reminds us of the founding mission of Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting and how corporate media guardrails have shifted. Then vs. Now: Analyzing how the core threats of media manipulation and information gatekeeping have transformed in the era of algorithms and hyper-partisanship. Money in the Machine: A critical look at whether wealth can ever truly be separated from policy, even when a candidate runs on a progressive platform. #JeffCohen #TomSteyer #RootsAction #MediaLiteracy #TheDisinfoDetox #CAGov #MediaCriticism #FAIR #PoliticalStrategy #PropagandaDeconstruction Tom Steyer on Big Corporations' Spending [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25NlxgAtIaE]This video features California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer addressing the corporate spending arrayed against his campaign, providing firsthand context on the political dynamics and platform strategies discussed by Jeff Cohen in the episode.

Inside the Battle for L.A. City Council District 15 with Jordan Rivers

Watch: https://youtu.be/nh4j-9TNYWs Subscribe to Gaslight Gazette: https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com [https://www.nolanhigdon.substack.com]Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox [https://www.patreon.com/DisinfoDetox]Learn more at: https://www.NolanHigdon.com [https://www.NolanHigdon.com] In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, we dive into local politics and the shifting power dynamics of Southern California. We sit down with Jordan Rivers, a candidate running for the Los Angeles City Council District 15 seat, to unpack what it takes to challenge an entrenched political establishment and advocate for working-class communities. Rivers shares his vision for the diverse neighborhoods of CD-15 and makes the case for why current representation is failing everyday residents. We look closely at the record of incumbent Tim McOsker, exploring how corporate interests and establishment politics dictate city policy, and discuss the concrete, transformative solutions needed to tackle L.A.’s most pressing crises—from housing and economic inequality to grassroots community empowerment. Inside This Episode:Representing the 15th: Jordan Rivers outlines the specific needs of the communities within District 15 and his vision for authentic, grassroots governance. Challenging the Incumbent: A critical look at the current occupant of the seat, Tim McOsker, and the corporate-aligned politics that dominate City Hall. A Blueprint for Change: Breaking down specific, actionable policy proposals designed to directly improve the material conditions of working-class Angelenos. Power to the People: Discussing how local elections serve as a vital battleground for dismantling corporate political control and rebuilding community-first representation. #JordanRivers #LACityCouncil #CD15 #Los Angeles #LocalPolitics #GrassrootsMovements #TimMcOsker #PoliticalReform #TheDisinfoDetox #NolanHigdon